Bullying and the Labeling Theory

Paper Summary:

The paper defines bullying as an aggressive behavior that creates an imbalance of power between two or more participants. The paper examines the labeling theory which posits that people will become what they are believed to be. The paper explains that if programs can change the self-perception of those who would otherwise have become bullies, it will help reduce the incidence of bullying in schools.

Outline:
Introduction
Statistically
Bullying Defined
Labeling Theory
Putting it Together
Fixing the Problem

From the Paper:

"With the recent tragedies at Virginia Tech University attention again turns to the recent rash of school shootings in America. Over the past several years schools throughout the nation have begun to implement security measures that used to be reserved for military areas, banks and other high profile locations. Today, schools are as vulnerable as anyplace else when it comes to violence and tragedy. Columbine was a shock to the nation as were the events in Arkansas, and more recently in Virginia. In each case of school shootings the person who did the shooting perceived themselves to be the victim. Whether it was true or not for him or her, at least in their mind they had been bullied and traumatized to the point they were willing to kill peers to stop the pain. While the average person would not react to being bullied, one with an already fragile emotional system might and has as news channels pipe scenes of SWAT teams racing onto school grounds again and again."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bjorkqvist, K., Lagerspetz, K., & Kaukiainen, A. (1992). Do girls manipulate and boys fight?: Developmental trends in regard to direct and indirect aggression. Aggressive Behavior, 18, 815-823.
• Borg, M. G. (1998). The emotional reactions of school bullies and their victims. Educational Psychology, 18, 433-443.
• Corrigan, Patrick (2007) How clinical diagnosis might exacerbate the stigma of mental illness. Social Work
• Manis, M. (1955). Social interaction and the self concept. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 51, 362-370.
• Matsueda, R. L. (1992). Reflected appraisals, parental labelling, and delinquency: Specifying a symbolic interaction theory. American Journal of Sociology, 97, 1577-1611.

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